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The Beechworth Burke Museum
From the collection of The Beechworth Burke Museum
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Postcard, Eda P Beckmann, c1935

  • A postcard displaying an interior, featuring a large oval table with a vase of flowers in the centre. The table is flanked by two armchairs and a fireplace in between and a large mirror above. The room also has two full bookcases off to the left.

    1997.2955 (Cropped)

  • A postcard displaying an interior, featuring a large oval table with a vase of flowers in the centre. The table is flanked by two armchairs and a fireplace in between and a large mirror above. The room also has two full bookcases off to the left. The postcard as a thin white boarder.

    1997.2955 (Obverse)

  • The reverse side of the postcard displaying message "Miss Peach, Best wishes from P. Beckmann" and the date 11.5.35

    1997.2955 (Reverse)

  • A postcard displaying an interior, featuring a large oval table with a vase of flowers in the centre. The table is flanked by two armchairs and a fireplace in between and a large mirror above. The room also has two full bookcases off to the left.
  • A postcard displaying an interior, featuring a large oval table with a vase of flowers in the centre. The table is flanked by two armchairs and a fireplace in between and a large mirror above. The room also has two full bookcases off to the left. The postcard as a thin white boarder.
  • The reverse side of the postcard displaying message "Miss Peach, Best wishes from P. Beckmann" and the date 11.5.35

Historical information

Mayday Hills Mental Hospital was originally constructed in 1864 under the name of the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum. It was built for locals in need of help who were kept in the local gaol. In its first decade, the residents of the hospital were used as menial labourers but over time, as mental healthcare progressed, were cared for in more nuanced ways. This site became a training hospital for nurses in the 1960's. Eventually, mental health patients were moved to other care facilities and Mayday Hills was operating as a geriatric care facility. It was closed in 1995, after which the buildings and their grounds were purchased to La Trobe University to be used as a campus. The university sold the site in 2011 to private ownership.

This postcard depicts an interior room which is presumed to be a living or reception room. It is filled with period furnishings.

Significance

Mayday Hills Mental Hospital is a historically significant site for many factors. It is representative of healthcare practice in nineteenth century Victoria. It contains rare examples of construction and architecture. It is also significant for aesthetic and technical reasons.

Physical description

Black and white postcard printed on matte card

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse:
11.5.35/
Miss Peach/
Best wishes/
from/
P. Beckman

Subjects

References

  • DHHS - Beechworth Lunatic Asylum A basic history of the institution, including a listing of all names the site has been known as
  • VHD - Mayday Hills Hospital A visual and descriptive history of the site and a statement of significance
  • Beechworth - A Titan's Field by Carole Woods ISBN/ISSN: 0949905259 A book on the history of Beechworth and its surrounding areas. pp. 122, 123, 163, 192, 193
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